Masonry guide line holder



Sept. 14, 1965 G. L. ANDREWS MASONRY GUIDE LINE HOLDER Filed May 31, 1962 FIG. 1.

s INVENTOR 26 12 fi/valPE-US ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,205,582 MASONRY GUIDE LINE HOLDER George L. Andrews, 1532 Todds Lane, Hampton, Va. Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 198,875 1 Qlaim. (Cl. 33-85) The present invention relates to a new and novel masonry guide line holder and more particularly to a masonry guide line holder which is adapted to be utilized for laying tile, brick and various other similar building materials.

When laying courses of bricks and the like, masons generally employ a guide line which enables the courses of bricks or the like to be laid true and plumb. The present invention is especially adapted for use in conjunction with door frames wherein the door frame may be utilized as a support and guide means for the invention device.

The device of the present invention is provided with a construction which is especially designed to permit the device to be clamped upon a door frame and the like.

In the illustrated modification, a pair of devices are shown as utilized with a pair of door frames when it is desired to lay bricks or similar means between the door frames. It will be evident, of course, that a single device according to the present invention may be employed with other suitable means of support at opposite ends of a masons guide line when desired.

Since the device of the present invention is especially adapted for use with door frames, a unique arrangement is provided which permits various portions of the guide line holder to be disposed flush against certain surfaces of the door frame to permit the device to be readily clamped in operative position.

When in clamped position, it may also be desirable to move the guide line up flush against a surface such as a portion of a wall which may already be erected, and accordingly, the present invention incorporates a novel construction which permits the guide line to be moved up flush against an adjacent surface when desired. The position of the guide line may be quickly and easily adjusted within wide limits so as to provide a maximum degree of versatility to the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel masonry guide line holder for supporting a masons guide line when laying brick or similar means in a wall.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a masonry guide line holder which is provided with means for holding the guide line taut so that the various courses of brick or the like laid while utilizing the present intion will be plumb and true.

A further object of the invention is to provide a masonry guide line holder which is particularly suited for use with door frames and the like wherein the door frame may be utilized as a support and guide means for the invention.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a masonry guide line holder employing a unique means for supporting a guide line such that the guide line may be moved up flush against an adjacent surface and further wherein various surfaces of the device may be disposed flush against surfaces of a door frame or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a masonry guide line holder which is quite simple and inexpensive in construction and yet which is quite sturdy and reliable in use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the manner in which the 3,295,582 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 invention is adapted to be utilized with a pair of door frames;

FIG. 2 is a section line partially broken away taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the guide line holder of the present invention as seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section line taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a section line taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a section line taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a pair of door frames indicated generally by reference numerals 10 and 11, these door frames being of relatively conventional construction and being formed of metal or a similar substance.

A pair of masonry guide line holders indicated generally by reference numerals 14 and 15 are shown as being clamped in operative position on one side edge portion of each of the door frames 10 and 11 as will hereinafter more clearly appear, and a portion of a completed brick wall or the like 17 is illustrated between the two door frames.

A masons guide line indicated by reference numeral 18 is shown as being held in operative position between the two guide line holders 14 and 15, the'guide line 18 serving to guide the mason in erecting the topmost course of bricks in a well-understood manner.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the construction of the guide I line holder according to the present invention may be more clearly understood. It should be understood that the guide line holders 14 and 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are of similar construction and are substantially mirror images of one another, and hereinafter the construction of the guide line holder 15 will be specifically described, corresponding parts of the guide line holder 14 being given similar numerals primed, it being understood that guide line holder 14 is constructed and operates in the identical manner.

As seen in FIG. 2, portions of two bricks or the like 2% and 21 are shown, and it will be seen that door frames 10 and 11 as seen in this figure include laterally projecting channel portions 10' and 11' to which the guide line holder of the present invention is adapted to be clamped.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 5, the guide line holder includes a main body portion 25 having a first offset leg portion 26 at one end thereof and a second offset leg portion 27 at the other end thereof, these leg portions extending substantially parallel to one another and in opposite directions.

A threaded opening 28 is provided through leg portion 26 and a clamping means indicated generally by reference numeral 30 is adjustably supported within this leg portion. Clamping means 30 includes a. threaded shank 31 which is threaded within opening 28, a frame engaging member 32 being rotatably supported on the reduced outer end 33 of shank portion 31, and retained in position by an enlarged portion 34 formed in the terminal end of the shank 31.

An enlarged annular portion 36 is provided at the opposite end of clamping means 30 and is, of course, adapted to be engaged between the fingers for turning the clamping means.

It will be understood that when mounting the device in operative position, the clamping means is adapted to be moved in or out as necessary by turning the clamping means and threading it forwardly or rearwardly relative to arm 26. It will be understood that the shank portion 31 is rotatable with respect to member 32 as is evident.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a guide linesupport means is indicated generally by reference numeral 40, this means having an inner face 41 which is adapted to be disposed adjacent to and flush up against-the outer side of leg portion 27. A laterally extending flange 42 is formed at the upper portion of the inner face 41 and extends outwardly in overlying relationship to the upper surface of leg portion 27. This flange prevents undesired tilting of the guide linevsupport means relative to 'the body means during utilization of the device.

An elongated slot 45 is provided through the central portion of the guide line support means, and'locking means in the form of two similar locking screws 46 extend through this elongated slot, the threaded shanks 46' of the locking screws being threaded within suitable.

threaded openings 48 provided in leg portion 27/ It is apparent that when it is desired to adjust the. position of guide line support means 40, the two locking bolts 7 may be loosened whereupon member 40 is moved to its desired position. The two locking bolts are then tightened up against the outer face 50 of member 40 to retain it in the desired position.

An indentation 52 is provided in the upper face 53 of member 40 adjacent to the forward face 54 of member 40, this indentation being for the purpose'of setting the masons line to an exact coursing mark, the coursing marks as indicated by reference numerals 56 in FIG. 3 being marked upon the door frame prior to laying the bricks and the like.

A notch 60 is provided in the forward face 54 of the guide line support means for receiving and supporting the masons guide line. It will be noted as seen in FIG. 6 that the lowermost portion of indentation 52.- is disposed at substantially the midpoint of notch 60 considering its vertical dimension such that when the lowermost portion of indentation 52 is aligned with the coursing mark on the door frame, the guide line disposed within the notch 60 will be in its proper operative position.

As seen most clearly in FIG; 6, a downwardly rearwardly extending groove 62 is provided in the inner face 41 of member 40, the upper end of groove 62 being in communication with notch 60 and the lower end of this groove being in communication with a notch 64 formed .in the lower face 65 of member 40. As may be most clearly seen in FIG. 3, the masons guide line 18 is dis-,

posed within notch 60, then extends downwardly within groove 62 in the inner face of the guide line support means, then extends through notch 64 along member 40 until it is wrapped around the guide line support means in a plurality of loops indicated, by reference numeral .70 to secure the guide line to the guide linesupport means. The free end 71 of the guide line maybe allowed to dangle downwardly from the apparatus as seen in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIG. 2, .it will be seen'that'the masons guide line 18is supported in position by the two guide line holders 14 and .15, the two guide line holders being clamped in operative position upon the channel portions and 11' of the door frames.

It is evident that the inner face of each of the guide line support means is disposed flush up against the walls 10" and 11" of the door frames, this being readily per mitted due to the fact that the guide line extends downwardly through groove 62 in inner face 41, thereby permitting the line to be compressed into this groove so that inner face 41 may be disposed flush against an adjacent surface.

It will also be noted as seen in FIG. 2 that the forward faces of each of the guideline support means may be -moved up substantially flush against the adjacent bricks 20 and 21 as shown so that the guide line can be disposed flush up against such an adjacent surface. This is, of

course, desirable if the end bricks have been already tial contact with an adjacent surface.

It is evident that by having a pair of notches such as 60 and 64 and a groove 62 providing communication between the notches, the guide line is caused to follow a tortuous path through these portions and when the guide line-is then subsequently wrapped around the guide line support means as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide line will be readily retained in fixed relationship relative to the guide line holder thereby ensuring that the guide line does not slip during use.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel masonry guide line holder which is adapted to support a masons guide line when laying bricks or the like in a wall. The holder includes an adjustable guide line support means which is adapted to hold the guide line taut so that the courses of brick or the like laid whenutilizing the present invention will be plumb and true, and the adjustable guide line support means'permits the guide line to be readily adjusted within Wide limits. The device is particularly adapted for use with a door frame, means being provided for clamping the device between a clamping means and an inner face of the guide line support means whereby the guide line support means'serves the dual function of clamping the device in operative position and adjustably holding the guide line in its desired location. The notch formed in the forward face of the guide line support means along with the adjustability of the guide line support means permits the guide line to be moved up flush against an adjacent surface, and further the inner face of the guide line support means may be moved up flush against the surface of a door frame or the like while the main body portion and the clamping means may also be moved into engagement with the door frame thereby firmly clamping the apparatus in its operative position.

The indentation provided in the upper face of the guide line support means additionally provides a most simple and effective means for accurately positioning the guide line with the aid of coursing marks which may be premarked on a door frame or the like.

As this invention maybe embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by'the appended claim, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claim or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by that claim.

I claim:

'A masonry guide line holder comprising a body means including a central elongated portion, said body means including a first offset leg portion formed at one end of said central portion and extending-substantially normally thereto in one direction, clamping means adjustably supported by said first leg portion, said central portion including a second offset leg portion formed at the opposite end'portion thereof and disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said first leg portion and extending substantially normally to said central portion in a direction opposite to said one direction, a guide line support means including an upper face, a lower face, a forward face and an inner face, said inner face being disposed .in contact with the outwardly facing surface of said second leg portion with a part of said guide line support means extending away from said central portion in said one direction and in spaced parallel relation to said first offset leg portion whereby said clamping means and said inner face are adapted to engage oppositely facing parallel surfaces of a door frame and the like, said guide line support means having an elongated slot formed therethrough, locking means comprising a pair of spaced locking members extending through said slot and being threadedly engaged with said second leg portion whereby said guide line support means may be readily locked to and unlocked from said second leg portion to permit ready adjustment of the guide line support means, said guide line support means including -a laterally extending flange extending from the upper portion of the inner surface thereof and engaging the upper edge of said second leg portion for preventing undesired tipping of the guide line support means relative to said body means, the forward face of said guide line support means having a notch formed therein for receiving a portion of a guide line and to permit the guide line to be moved substantially flush up against an adjacent surface, said lower face having a notch formed therein for receiving a portion of a guide line, said inner face having a groove formed therein, said groove having the opposite ends thereof in communication with said notches for receiving a portion of a guide line extending through said notches whereby the inner face of the guide line support means may be moved substantially flush up against an adjacent surface,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,485,777 10/49 Rogers 33-97 2,646,626 7/53 Palin 33-95 2,735,183 2/56 Taylor 3386 2,893,125 7/59 Kampel 3385 2,930,136 3/60 Knudsen et al. 33l03 X FOREIGN PATENTS 665,522 1/52 Great Britain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. EVANS, Examiner. 

